Grading the Boilermakers: Purdue football vs. Indiana

Penalties and a big red zone interception in the first half looked like they might cost Purdue. But several Boilermakers - Akeem Shavers, O.J. Ross, Kurt Freytag, Crosby Wright - stepped up and made plays in the second half. Robert Marve bounced back from a miserable second quarter, though he must credit his receivers' performances after the catch for his career-high yardage total.

DEFENSE

C-

The Boilermakers somewhat curbed their big-play susceptibility in the second half. And the defense came up with big plays of its own after halftime, with four turnovers directly leading to touchdowns. Hard to be too happy with 512 yards and five touchdowns allowed. Many point to the offense as the season's biggest shortcoming, but the defense never fulfilled its promise, either.

SPECIAL TEAMS

B+

Indiana started seven drives inside its own 25, thanks to Cody Webster's punting (including one downed at the 3 on a nice play by Central Catholic grad Danny Anthrop) and Thomas Meadows' kickoffs. Anthrop and Raheem Mostert both gave the offense a boost with kick returns, but none of them led to points. The offense bailed Mostert out after a flubbed kickoff return early in the fourth quarter.

COACHING

B-

If you're grading just based on Saturday, there's more positive than negative. The Boilermakers won their rivalry game, assured bowl eligibility and even summoned new life from the offense. For the second straight week, well-timed plays like the screen pass and wheel route to Shavers in the fourth quarter resulted in big touchdowns. It's still hard to stomach anyone putting up 500-plus yards in your house on Senior Day.

PLAY OF THE GAME

On the next play from scrimmage after Shavers' impressive 73-yard screen play touchdown, a Cameron Coffman pass bounced out of the hands of receiver Cody Latimer and right to Purdue safety Max Charlot. The second of three Boiler interceptions set up a Shavers touchdown run that gave Purdue a two-score lead with 7:55 left.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Shavers provided the physical highlight of the season, shoving IU safety Mark Murphy away with one arm in mid-stride on that screen-pass touchdown. The senior running back totaled 225 yards and three touchdowns on his 29 touches.